Kristen and Debbie came here to design our family’s picture board for the viewing and funeral.

Arranging pictures

Kristen is an avid scrap booker, so her Cricut was a great help.

Everyone’s photo boards at Mother’s funeral. The flowers were from the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Ours

Mel & Velda’s family

Elvin & Patti’s

Bob & Doris’

Casket Bearers preparing to go to the gravesite.

Grandsons and a grandson-in-law: This side – left to right – David Richard, Ted Clements, Bryan High, Japheth Stauffer. Back side – left to right – Jeff High, Donald Rhoads, Jon Stauffer, Jere High. There was a funeral director behind the casket.

During open mike, we were asked to share memories of Mother. Jesse told his dad that he wanted to tell everyone about a memory Great-grandma shared with him just a few days before her death.

She told him that when he was quite little – during a Christmas gift exchange – he touched every present and asked, “Mine? Mine?”

That reminded Jere of a Christmas when Grandpa and Grandma forgot to get him a gift. He was just a little guy, so was quite disappointed. But she made up for it by bringing him two gifts from a trip to Florida – just after Christmas.

Dorretta shared a few of her favorite memories.

After lunch our great-grandson, Anthony, stood still just long enough for me to get a picture.

Casket flowers from mother’s children

Pretty flowers from our TFC president and his wife – Scott and Karen.

The large bouquet of flowers from her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

This is what it looked like after each of the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren took a flower or bouquet to keep in her memory.

I designed a bouquet out of the leftovers when everyone else was finished.

Thanks, Kristen. I kept one bag out of the freezer for supper. It tasted like fresh corn. Yum!

I never tire of a clear night and a beautiful moon – whether it is waxing, full, or waning.

Sometimes I like to think about the fact that it is the same moon God created thousands of years ago – and the same moon that each of our family members see – no matter where they live or are traveling.

Cell Phone Photo

Our oldest granddaughter, Elizabeth, came to spend a week with us ~ the evening before Reuben and Judi went back to Wisconsin.

A few days later I asked if she wanted to go along to AC Moore to get some supplies for Cousin’s Week. We had a delicious lunch at Coffee Co. which is just across the parking lot.

The next morning I heard Elizabeth and Abby talking about going shopping, and as I thought, “It would be fun to go along,” I derived a plan, and told them that I would drive if they invited me to go along.

These sisters are smart girls, and took me up on the offer. 🙂

Elizabeth buckling in Anthony (Nathaniel and Abby’s baby – our great-grandson) before we went shopping.

Our first stop was a roadside vegetable stand where Abby bought a basket of peaches, and I bought a tomato. I love garden-fresh tomatoes and ours weren’t ripe yet.

We bought a lot more at Sharp Shopper. I got some good food bargains for Cousin’s Week.

Abby bought another basket of peaches at Glenwood Farms and I found a few more things for Cousin’s Week.

By the time we got to Wal-Mart, Anthony needed lunch, so Abby stayed in the van to feed him while Elizabeth checked on a special tea that Abby wanted (they didn’t have it) and I bought Subway sandwiches. (Our Wal-Mart has a Subway inside.)

We opened the van windows and enjoyed a delightful picnic.

Internet picture

Since Anthony was full and happy again, Abby asked if we could stop at Madelyn’s Closet in Ephrata (a thrift store). It was half-price day, and she was looking for little boy clothing for Anthony.

I found a light, dressy Chico jacket that was a perfect fit for me. As I was examining it for flaws, I noticed that it was new – with an original price tag of $88.00 ~ then marked down to $52.99. The thrift store price was $9.85 ~ and since everything was half-price, I paid $4.93. 🙂

Internet picture

Our last stop was Good’s Store where I bought two air mattresses for Cousin’s Week as Cerwin was taking two of ours along on a chapel maintenance trip to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts ~ during Cousin’s Week.

Cerwin and Glenn Fahnestock were replacing a chapel door and making several other repairs ~ that would take more than one day, so they were going to sleep on the chapel one night.

Elizabeth spent the next week ~ August 17 -26 ~ in New Windsor, Maryland, with other members of her team as they trained for a one-year term of volunteer service in Lewiston, Maine, with Brethren Volunteer Service/Brethren Revival Fellowship.

Personal

My husband, Cerwin, and I have four married children and sixteen grandchildren. Three granddaughters are married and we have one great-grandson. We serve with Transport For Christ - a ministry to truck drivers - and love our life in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.